On schedule

You know how sometimes you run into people who seem to be on the same time schedule as you?  They were married about the same year, their kids are all about the same age as yours? etc..

In my life I have had a few of these, but one that rivals them all.

When we first moved to Renton I was about 7 months pregnant with sariah.  There ws another lady there who was pregnant and due within a few weeks of me.  Sure enough they ended up being born about a week and a half apart.

After six months we moved to Federal Way and after another few months were pregnant with T.J.  Shortly after his birth I was in the nursing room when in walked this same friend with her new born.  This time they were about a week apart.

Fast forward a year or so. I attend a church meeting and happen to run into this friend again.  One look at each others stomach and we both start laughing.  Sure enough, we had done it again and this time our due dates were the exact same day.  The babies were once again about a week and a half apart.

We have now agreed that the minute one of us finds out we are pregnant we are to notify the other.  It will be nice to watch the children grow and share activities and I have truly enjoyed having someone to be pregnant with each time.

camping in the snow.

K. For those who know us, you know we love camping…  But the concept of camping in the snow was new to me.  Not in a “really? there are people who camp in the snow?” way, but in the “wait? you mean you expect members of my family to do that?” sort of way.  And yes, apparently scouts are really into the freeze your booty, stay wet and lose your tent kind of camping.

So, I sent my son and hubby off, wishing them well and secretly rejoicing in the fact that as the mother I wasn’t expected to go but instead could teach the girls how to crochet baby hats.

They got there pretty late the first night. Luckily there was a cabana they could all hang out in. Not sure if it is considered cheating or not for them to hang out in a heated area while snow camping, but I’ll let it pass, just this once.

apparently the weather forces thought that it was funny they were camping also and decided to have a little fun with our small group of guys.  This was one of the tents after its occupants crawled out of it. Matt said he had never seen his tent literally lay across his face.

Since when has a black stocking cap made my little boy look years older and so very handsome?  I love this picture. But, it also smacks reality right into my face to ensure that I realize that the boy is indeed growing up.

The nest morning they drove to the Ape caves for some hiking.  Don’t they just exude their toughness?  you get double points if you can find Matt and Mike in this picture.

Heading down into the cave.  Inside, if there was no light source it was pitch black.  Couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face.

Apparently there were points in the cave where navigating narrow crevices and rock climbing skills were in demand.

Truly, there is nothing like the light at the end of the tunnel though.

Thus ends our tale of two brave guys who showed no fear despite freezing temps and pitch black, Closter phobic-like conditions.

I was glad to hear that they had such an amazing time that I did not stop hearing about it for a whole four days.  I am thankful that another ward has welcomed my son and hubby since Mike is the only 11 year old scout in our ward and spent the summer having fallen through the cracks,  most of all, I am thankful that I was able to stay in the warmth and comfort of my own home.

Dancing in the Minefields.

Matt and I just celebrated our 15th anniversary. He took me (and baby Kaden) to Salem Oregon to see my favorite comedian, Tim Hawkins, perform live. The show was amazing and I laughed so hard the entire time.

Matt reserved a room at the Grand Hotel that had a large jet tub in the corner of the room. We had looked at it before, but me being the miser that I am had said that Motel 6 would work just as well. Matt, being the perfect guy that he is made the reservation without informing me. Thank you babe!

Saturday we relaxed the majority of the day and then went scouring antique shops and had lunch at the food court. Totally reminiscent of our dating and early marriage when we were too poor to do much else except sit at the food court and people watch… It’s still a good, cheap date.

I love it that we are in such a comfortable place that we can spend a weekend just doing nothing… that we don’t have to do anything to fill our time together. That he recognizes my need to veg in front of my trash TV without children around. That this need is required if I am to maintain any sense of sanity.

This has turned into one of my favorite songs. I heard it first a few months ago and thought how coincidental it was that the first lines described our situation. he was 19, I was 21 and we have now been married 15 years.

More than that though the song spoke of marriage not being perfect, being harder than you had imagined it would be, but ultimately of being worth all the sacrifice and in the end having someone who will bring you back when you lose your self, of having someone who will take care of you.

I also fell in love with the video. I have always had a soft spot for older couples. I love how cute they are, how intertwined they are, how one moves with the other in a seamless, non-hesitating manner, of knowing that they have most likely spent a lifetime of experiences with each other and having done such are inexplicably bonded.

Can’t wait until some young newlywed watches my hubby and me dancing and thinks the same thing about us.

Well I was 19 you were 21
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much to young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago
Chorus:
We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
Well ‘I do' are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I've heard is a good place to begin
Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price for the life that we have found
Chorus:
And we're dancing in the minefields
We're sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
That's what the promise is for
Bridge:
So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose loves chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith
to the end of all my days
when I forget my name, remind me
Cause we bear the light of the son of man
So there's nothing left to fear
So I'll walk with you in the shadow lands
Till the shadows disappear
Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos baby
I can dance with you
Chorus:
So lets go dancing in the minefields
Lets go sailing in the storms
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
That's what the promise is for

The 5,000 year leap

I started reading this book and am enjoying it. The realization of how far technology has come hit me a few weeks ago when we took our family to The Great Wolf Lodge. (Those pics to come later).
Sariah was sitting in the front room watching cartoons when she called to me that her show had disappeared and she didn't hit any buttons or anything. She wanted me to put it back on for her. I saw that there was a commercial on and told her it would come back on in a minute. When it did, she looked at me like I was magic and asked how I did that. 15 min later this was repeated. It then dawned on me that she didn't know wht commercials were, had never seen them. We got rid of programming when she was just a few months old and so she always watches DVD's or Netflix.

The next day during some down time TJ reached over to the end table and pointed at the phone and asked what it was. For a split second I was trying to figure out if he was serious or not. Then I realized that we got rid of our land line before he was born and he has probably never seen an actual phone with a headset.

It is definetly a different world that our children are inheriting.

Purely random pics I am saving from going into oblivion.

Yes, these pics should have been more towards the Christmas post.. But I just came across them and didn’t want them to get lost in “picture cyber space “ on the computer. 

Thus, I am willing to risk posting cheesy christmas pictures towards the end of February if it ensures that the pictures will forever be documented in the book that this blog turns into each year. Granted they will most likely be documented in the wrong year, but procrastinators can’t be complainers now can we?

Since the birth of our second child we have been told that our children definitely  look like they belong to the same family.  Thus Matt and I refer to them as “carbon copy” kids.  The joke being that Heavenly Father perfected it the first time and just pressed the copy button for the others because who wants to mess with perfection?

It’s a good thing our Daddy is strong!

Two of the boys in my life…  Oh, how dearly I love them both.

But how could you not just love that boy?

As for this batch of photos, let just label them “you know you are from a big family, when…..”

and this pic? We are labeling it “Black Mail”.  He says he was just trying to remember what it was like to be a baby.

Grandpa Olson

This past October as I prepared for the birth of a child, Matt’s Grandfather and family were planning for the celebration of his 90th birthday.

90 years. I can barely fathom living to be 50, nonetheless 90!  How much has this man seen and done?  The lives he has touched were evident by the amount of pictures taken of him greeting the guests.  smiles of love and endearment, a hand on their shoulder..  This is a man who has surely touched a lot of lives in his 90 years.

 

I have only met him twice. They live in Rochester, Minnestoa, which we have found is on the way to nowhere…  Not one of those places you can say “ Well, on our way to (x location) let’s stop in and say hi. 

The first time I met him was for the celebration of his 50th wedding anniversary.  I truly can say that I hope his Grandson follows in his footsteps and will also be blessed to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary.

I don’t know a lot about him. He seems gentle and kind and of few words.

the amazing thing is that this 90 year old man still drives a school bus!  I believe he retired from his career  and started driving a bus to fill his time.  That was over 30 years ago!  the local community did spots on him for the news and it was so cute to see all of these children singing happy birthday to him.

Matt’s side of the family is spread far and wide and rarely is able to get together.

When we were in Texas and his parents were there also we would see them frequently. Since then, it’s been maybe every four to five years.  It’s strange coming from a small family that has always lived close and gotten together for every holiday. 

They made up a table with pictures of the families that were his progeny.

Duane olson had three children.  Of those three, only Matt‘s dad went on to have children.  Matt is the oldest of three boys.

Papa and Meme (Kevin and Susan Olson)

they now live in Rochester to help take care of Grandpa and Kevin’s sister who is disabled.  Even thought they aren’t close they stay in touch with cards and packages every holiday!!!  Not one birthday, anniversary or holiday gets by them.  The children always look forward to their birthdays when they will find a card addressed to them as “Master Isaac”.

 

Jeremy is the middle boy.  Him, his wife Heather and their three, live in Florida where he owns an awning company.  They became pregnant with the twins when their daughter was only nine months or so.  Anytime I would dwell on how hard it was to have two so close together I was reminded of Heather raising three and quickly shut up :)

Danny is the youngest and lives with his wife Tiffany and daughter Kylee in Amarillo, Texas with the Podzemny  (Matt’s mother’s family) clan.  He is a master plumber.

from being the patriarch of a small family of five, he is now the beginning link in a family of 19.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!!